Arm rest for intravenous injections



Oct. 23, 1962 J. SCHWARTZ ARM REST FOR INTRAVENOUS INJECTIONS Filed Nov.18. 1959 e m m H P x w itary condition.

Unite States Patent .Ofiice 3,059,636 r ARM REST FOR INTRAVENOUSINJECTIONS Joseph Schwartz, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Ipco HospitalSupply Corp New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 18,1959, Ser. No. 853,740 7 Claims. (Cl. 128133) The present inventionrelates to an improved arm rest for support and immobilization of thearm of a patient when an intravenous injection is given.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set I The accompanyingdrawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustratean embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an arm rest embodying the presentinvention, with parts broken away to illustrate the constructionthereof;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the em bodiment of theinvention shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 4 is a side view of the arm rest shown in the other drawings inwhich is illustrated the use of the board to support and immobilize thearm of a patient to whom an intravenous solution is to be administered.

The present invention provides an improved arm rest for use inhospitals, doctors oflices, and the like, upon which the arm of apatientis supported and preferably substantially immobilized when anintravenous solution is being administered. The arm rest of theinvention is more sanitary, safer, and more eflicient and expeditious touse than the makeshift arrangements which have cusromarily been used forthe purpose. The arm rest of the invention is padded for thecomfortofthe patient, and the padding is closely held with respect to the boardso ,as to prevent any dangerous shifting of the elements of thestructure during administration of the solution. The major components ofthe structure are pre-assembled and ready for immediate and efficientuse, and may be re-used again and again with different patients with nodanger whatever of cross-infection.

With the foregoing and other advantages in mind, the illustrativeembodiment of the invention as herein shown and described comprises arelatively rigid, longitudinallyextending base element for the arm rest,the upper surface of which is covered with a resilient material,providing the comfortable padded area upon which the arm of the patientis to rest. The resilient surface covering is closely held with respectto the rigid base member so that dangerous shifting of the elements inuse may be prevented. The combined base and resilient members arepreferably closely encased and sealed within an envelope of smooth,relatively non-porous material, which provides for the close andpermanent assembly of the elements of the arm rest without the necessityof using an adhesive, easy and effective cleaning and maintaining thestructure in a san- Further, a sleeve member is provided to be slippedover the thus encased, padded, rigid arm rest, and said sleeve member isremovable, disposable, and is replaced for each patient with whom thearm rest is used.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory ofthe invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the in vention herein shownfor purposes of illustration and example, the arm rest comprises alongitudinally extending, relatively rigid base member 5 which may, forinstance, be made of Wood of the kind and about the thicknesscustomarily used for splints. A resilient member 6 is positioned on oneof the flat surfaces of the base member 5 and, as shown in the drawings,the dimensions of the resilient member are preferably such that itcovers entirely the surface of the base member upon which it is seated,and extends slightly beyond the edges thereof. The resilient member 6can conveniently be made of a slab of foamed plastic as for instanceurethane.

The base member 5 and resilient member 6 assembled therewith asdescribed and shown are closely surrounded by an envelope 7, whichpreferably is a thin sheet of flexible, thermoplastic material that isrelatively nonporous, and can'be heat-sealed to itself as shown at 8 tocompletely enclose and seal the elements within. The envelope may, forinstance, be made of vinyl chlorideacetate copolymer, which is commonlycalled Vinylite. The close engagement of the envelope 7 about the basemember 5 and the resilient member 6 holds those members in firmassembled relationship without slippage and without the necessity ofusing an adhesive. The overlapped edges of the resilient member 6 withrespect to the edges of the base member 5 tends to press the base intothe resilient member and retain it in place. Such construction alsominimizes engagement of the envelope 7 with the unyielding edges of thebase 5, thus protecting the envelope from friction that would wearthrough and rupture the sealed envelope.

The sleeve member 9 is adapted to be readily slipped over the padded armrest unit already described, being open at both ends for the purpose.Such sleeve preferably is made of a sheet of multi-ply, embossed paper,turned on itself and affixed along the line 10 by adhesive, so it willclosely encircle the padded arm rest unit, but can be readily slipped onand olf. The sleeve is thus a low cost item which may be used over thearm rest unit for one patient only and then slipped off and replaced.The embossed multi-ply paper is advantageous in that it is soft andcomfortable to the patients aim, and also readily absorbs perspiration.

FIG. 4 illustrates the use of the arm rest of the invention, showing thearm 11 of the patient comfortably positioned on the padded side of thestructure and held thereon by tapes 12, the numeral 13 denoting the tubeextending to the patients hand for administration of the intravenoussolution.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificcombinations shown and described but departures may be made therefrom,within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What is claimed is:

1. An arm rest for intravenous injections, comprising, in combination, alongitudinally extending, relatively nondeformable base member, aresilient pad member positioned upon and covering a flat surfacethereof, a relatively non-porous envelope closely enclosing the outersurfaces of said contiguous members to maintain said members in firmassembled relationship and providing a sealed enclosure therefor, and adisposable sleeve open at Patented Oct. 23, 1962,

least one end and adapted to be slipped over the said members andenvelope as a removable cover therefor when said arm rest is usedwhereby said arm rest is maintained in sanitary condition during eachuse thereof.

2. An arm rest for intravenous injections, comprising, in combination, alongitudinally extending, relatively nondeformable base member, aresilient pad member positioned upon and covering a fiat surfacethereof, an ent velope of relatively non-porous, thermoplastic materialclosely enclosing the outer surfaces of said contiguous membersheat-sealed to maintain said members in firm assembled relationship andproviding a sealed enclosure about the members within, and a disposablesleeve open at at least one end and adapted to he slipped over the saidmembers and envelope as a removable cover therefor when said arm rest isused whereby said arm rest is maintained in sanitary condition duringeach use thereof.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the resilient pad member ismade of urethane, the envelope is made of Vinylite, and the sleeve ismade of multi-ply, embossed paper.

4. In an arm rest construction for intravenous injections, incombination, a longitudinally extending, relatively rigid base member, aresilient pad member positioned upon and covering a flat surface thereofand extending beyond the edges of said surface, and an envelope made ofrelatively non-porous, thermoplastic material closely enclosing theouter surfaces of said contiguous members heat-sealed to maintain saidmembers in firm assembled relationship and providing a sealed enclosureabout the members within.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the envelope is made ofVinylite.

6. A device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the resilient pad member ismade of urethane.

7. A device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the base member is a thin,wood splint.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,007,503 Riordan July 9, 1935 2,704,075 Cherkin Mar. 15, 1955 2,728,450Haire Dec. 27, 1955 2,868,193 Kreft Jan. 13, 1959 2,896,618 SchaeferJuly 18, 1959 2,896,631 Block July 28, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 552,278Great Britain Mar. 30, 1943

